Rep. Byron Donalds (R-FL) has emerged as a prominent contender to join former President Donald Trump on the Republican presidential lineup this November.

Donalds has served as the U.S. representative for Florida’s 19th Congressional District since 2021.

Age

Donalds was born on October 28, 1978. He is 45 years old.

Career

In 2016, he was elected to serve in the Florida House of Representatives, holding office for two terms representing the state’s 80th district before he joined the U.S. House.

During his time in the Florida state body, he also served as the chairman of the Pre K-12 Quality Subcommittee and the Insurance and Banking Subcommittee.

Donalds graduated from Florida State University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in finance and marketing. 

Prior to his political career, he worked as a credit analyst at TIB Bank in 2003 and was later promoted to credit manager. In 2007, he joined CMG Surety LLC as a portfolio manager. 

In 2012, he unsuccessfully ran for the U.S. House of Representatives. In 2015, he took a position at Wells Fargo as a financial adviser. 

Donalds is also part of the Financial Services Committee and Committee on Oversight and Accountability.

Family

Donalds grew up in Brooklyn, New York. As one of three children, he was raised by his single mother.

He lives in Naples, Florida, with his wife, Erika, and their three sons: Damon, Darin, and Mason. 

Religion

Donalds is a Christian and a staunch opponent of abortion. He has expressed his belief in the value of every individual’s life, advocating the protection of unborn children from conception until their natural death. 

Net worth

Donalds’s net worth is between $5 and $20 million, according to various reports. 

Major policy initiatives

He has primarily focused on issues such as education reform, criminal justice reform, and economic policy. He advocates for a simplified tax code aimed at boosting private sector investments, fostering individual wealth generation and employment opportunities.

In terms of education, he supports school choice initiatives, which he says empower parents and allow every child to have access to a world-class education

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Relationship with Trump

Donalds has also been a strong advocate of Trump in Congress. For instance, he supported Trump’s efforts to challenge the 2020 presidential election outcome. In January 2021, he voted against certifying the electors from Arizona and Pennsylvania. 

Additionally, he has recently defended Trump during the hush money trial, traveling to New York to stand outside the courtroom with the former president and dozens of other supporters.